‘I don’t think there’s any better spinner’- Harbhajan Singh expresses disappointment with Yuzvendra Chahal’s exclusion from Asia Cup squad

A lot of chatter has been going on among the cricket fraternity since the Indian Cricket Board released the Indian squad for the Asia Cup, 2023. Many cricket experts and former cricketers have been analyzing the cricket squad that might be the same for the hosts for the ODI World Cup, 2023. 

Among all the discussions, a major point that has to be noted, has been India’s wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Many former cricketers have justified or criticized the board’s decision of excluding Yuzvendra Chahal from yet another tournament. 

Recently, the 2011 World Cup winning player, Harbhajan Singh analyzed the Indian Cricket Team’s squad ahead of the Asia Cup on his YouTube channel. While others justified the need of an all-rounder spinner like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, along with an in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Harbhajan Singh believes India is lacking while missing Yuzvendra Chahal in their squad. Harbhajan Singh went on to call Yuzvendra Chahal as the best spinner in the white ball formats despite being out of form for a while. 

Harbhajan Singh on Yuzvendra Chahal’s brilliance in white ball cricket

“The one thing I feel is lacking in the team is the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal. A leg-spinner who can get the ball to turn away. If you talk about genuine spinner, I don’t think there’s any spinner in India better than Chahal in white-ball formats. Yes, his last few games weren’t good, but that doesn’t make him a bad bowler,” said Harbhajan Singh. 

“I think his presence in the team was necessary. I hope the doors aren’t closed to him. It’s important to consider him for the World Cup because the tournament is in India. Chahal is a proven match-winner. I can understand his form isn’t good, so you may have rested him. But I think if he was with the team, his confidence would’ve stayed intact. Any player who comes back after being dropped, the pressure to perform is always there,” added Harbhajan Singh.